Pile-sinking apparatus.



2 SHEETSSHEET 1,

Patented Oct. 10,1911.

A. B. CLARK. PILE SINKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 21, 1905.

A. B. CLARK. PILE SINKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.21, 1905. Patented Oct 10 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I!" Ammm/ r A WVM w 45 %1/ All/IASA B. CLARK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PILE-SINKING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application filed October 21, 1905. Serial No. 283,757.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMASA B. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Pile-Sinking Apparatus, of whichthe following is a full, true, and concise specification.

My invention relates to means for sinking piles beneath existingstructures, and more particularly to means for sinking tubular piles;and the invention further relates to the formation, construction andrelative arrangement of the several mechanical parts and to combinationsand subcombinations thereof, whereby the principle of the said inventionmay be efiectively carried out, all as will be fully described below themore particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and inwhich like reference characters designate like parts throughout,

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan and side elevation of one form ofmy invention in position beneath an existing wall,

the pile being shown in section in Fig. 2 asv of the double sectional ortelescopic type, which said pile is constructed according to theinvention disclosed and claimed in another application filed by me July8, 1905, Serial Number 268,810. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe same apparatus with parts broken away in vertical central section;Fig. 1 is a detail. of a modification of the followerblock of thisapparatus; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively plan and side elevation ofanother form of apparatus embodying this invention, shown in positionand as operating upon a single tube sectional pile according to thepending application above referred to; Fig. 7 is a detail side elevationof the standard, hammer element and pile end, as exhibited in Fig. 6;Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of this apparatus on line 8-8 ofFig. 5, and Figs. 9 and 10 are details illustrating the couplingsbetween the pile sections of the pile of Fig. 6.

Referring first to the apparatus shown in Figs 1-3, the reference 1indicates a base.

piece or standard which is adapted to rest upon or over the end of thepile to be driven and to support the pile-sinking apparatus thereon. Asshown in this form of the invention, this standard is formed as anannular block with a laterally projecting ledge 2 formed thereon, whichrests upon a corresponding interior shoulder on an annular followerblock3, which latter sets directly upon the end or edge of the pile. Foruse with tubular piles the standard and follower block are of suchformation as to close the open end thereof, the follower block beingprovided with a packing ring 4, if necessary, and the standard is coredout or provided with an aperture which affords an escape for thecontents of the said pile, through the registering orifice and pipe 5 inthe said block. The standard is centrally secured to or formed on apiston rod 6 which supports a piston 7 and also an upward extension 8,formed as an axial extension of said piston rod, and on the end of saidextension there is carried a cross-head 9 which serves as the immediatesupport for a poweractuated expansive instrument presently to beexplained. A hammer cylinder 15 surrounds the piston 7 and is adapted tobe reciprocated by means of any suitable motive power, such for exampleas compressed air or steam, which is admitted by the feed pipe 10 on thecrosshead through the tube '10 into the valve chest 12 carried by thecylinder at one side thereof. The valve mechanism, which may be of anydesired type, admits the fluid pressure alternately to opposite sides.of the piston so as to cause the proper reciprocation of the cylinder,and is controlled to this end by means of the properly formed cams ontwo stationary cam rods 13, the latter being secured to the cross-head 9and having their lower ends protruded through the eyes 14: at the endsof the reciprocating valve chest.

It will be obvious that the valve gearing just described is only one ofvarious means for properly controlling the admission of the motive forceto the motor mechanism and that other kinds of gearing may also beemployed according to the desire of the maker of the nature of themotive power available. Similarly, the valve chest may be located on thecross-head instead of upon the reciprocating cylinder and the fluidpressure instead of passing through a single tube 10 may pass through asuitable duct formed in the extension or rod 8 and not shown herein.Indeed, the valve chest will be omitted entirely when the motormechanism is of the so-called valveless type, and the several ports areprovided in the piston and walls of the cylinder. The hammer cylinder15, which may be formed in the ordinary manner as shown, is preferablyprovided for sake of economy with a removable striking piece 16, annularin form and secured thereto by means of a threaded locking ring 17,which screw onto the lower cylinder-head, the engaging contact betweenthe ring and striking piece being conical so as to cause the latter tobind against the cylinder.

For use in sinking tubular piles the stationary piston rod 6, piston 7and the rod 8 are formed hollow so as to provide an aperture 18 from endto end through the entire motor-driven mechanism and its standard. Thisaperture is for the reception of a jetpipe J through which a stream ofwater may be forced to loosen the soil and facilitate the descent of thepile, the water and soil escaping from the pile through the hollowstandard 1 and the lateral escape passage 5, but it is possible, ifnecessary or convenient, to make the aperture 18 of relatively largediameter so that the contents of the pile can find their escape throughthe annular passage surrounding the said jet pipe and over flow at thetop of the rod 8, in which case the passage 5 would of course not benecessary. The features of the formation and location of the jet pipeaperture are fully described and claimed in a copending applicationfiled by me September 5, 1905.

. ith piles not tubular, nor adapted to be jetted from the interior,these features are manifestly not required.

The tubular rod 8 besides serving to provide an isolated jet pipeaperture through the motor mechanism, serves also as the pressuretransmitting support of the crosshead 9 above referred to. The saidcrosshead may be integral with the rod if preferred, but is shown hereinas connected to it by a threaded engagement and lock nut.

The expansive instrument above referred to consists of twofluid-pressure jacks having their cylinders 19 mounted on saidcross-head at opposite ends thereof, soas not to interfere with themanipulation of the jet-pipe J between them. The cylinders containplungers 20 and the fluid pressure for expelling them is introduced atthe point marked 21, the two cylinders being in communication throughthe connecting bridge 22, which is also curved as shown in Fig. 1 so asto give adequate clearance to the jet-pipe.

In the operation of sinking a pile underneath an existing wall such asshown at 23, a niche is first cut therein, as indicated, and the headerbeams 24 are put in place. The first or bottom section of the pile isthen placed in the niche directly beneath the overhanging wall and thepile sinking apparatus is placed on the end of the pile, between it andthe header beams. The follower block should of course be of suchdiameter that it will rest squarely upon the end of the pile, but as thesaid block is freely removable, if one block does not fit, another thatdoes, may be readily substituted for it. By introducing hydraulic orother suitable pressure into the jacks, their plungers are caused topress against the header beams and by acting against this abutment toexert a constant downward pressure through the standard and inter posedfollower block upon the pile. Simultaneously with the exerting of thisforce, the additional force of the motor-driven hammer mechanism, actingin the same downward direction, may be applied to the pile. At the sametime or when needed the jet pipe may be employed in its customaryoffice. The constant force due to the expansion of the jacks may or maynot be suiiicient of itself to push the pile into the soil, but in anyevent its effect is to assist the action of the hammer mechanism andhold it in place, if not to exert an impelling force upon the pile whichkeeps it constantly in motion downward. When the first pile section hasbeen sunk to a proper depth, other sections are superposed thereon,successively until a sectional pile has been formed of sufficientlength, whereupon the apparatus and jet-pipe may be removed and a.suitable pressure resisting column inserted between the head of the pileand the header beams, such as will adequately sup port the weight of thewall.

The pile shown in Figs. 2t, is formed of telescopic sections of pipe,the inner sections overlapping the joints of the outer sections, andbeing centralized therein by the spacers S. In order to prevent thewater inside the pile from leaking out of the annular space between thesections, a packing 25 may be inserted in said space as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 the construction of the follower block is modified to fit overthe outside of the pile instead of inside and the packing ring 4, whichis inflatable by means of tube 4*, also has contact with the outside ofthe pile. This follower block is of course removable from the standardand therefore interchangeable with others of different size.

Referring now to Figs. 58, the motor mechanism is substantially the sameas that previously described, being comprised of a stationary piston-rod6, piston 7, and tubular rod 8, and having a valve chest 12 formed inthe cylinder 15 and operated by cam rods 13. The standard 30, by whichsaid mechanism is supported, occupies a portion only of the terminalarea or upper edge of the tubular pile, so that the rest of the saidarea or edge is left exposed to receive the impact of the hammerelement; thereby to rest directly on the pile while operating upon it.The said standard or base is formed with a cylindrical portion 31 whichis adapted to extend below the end of the pile and fits therein orthereon either directly or by means of a superposed and interchangeablefiller ring not herein shown, and a suitable packing ring 4, inflatableor otherwise, is desirably provided in said lower portion. The upperportion of the standard is in the form of two opposite lateralprojections 32, which are adapted to rest over or upon the end of thepile and support the downward pressure of the apparatus. Theseprojections are capable of assuming a variety of forms, but as shownherein are shaped so as to be serviceable with a special kind ofsectional pile, which said pile is fully described and claimed in theapplication first above referred to, and is also shown in Figs. 9 and 10herein. It consists of a number of superposed sections A, A of pipe heldwith their ends in registry by means of interior short pipe sections orunions B overlapping said ends; and the short section B is held in placeby means of square lugs G which rest in V- shape notches respectivelycut in the ends of said sections A. The lateral projections 32 seatinthe notches of the uppermost section of the pile and the stationarypiston rod 6 is fastened to the standard 30 by the screw thread jointshown or in any other suitable manner. For tubular piles capable ofjetting, the standard is made hollow or apertured so that the contentsof the pile can escape laterally to the outside through one of theprojections 32 and the piston rod, piston and rod 8 are also hollow toprovide a jet-pipe aperture as before. When the packing ring 4: isinflatable, the duct 4 for inflating the same may also pass through thesame projection 32, as shown in Fig. 8. The reciprocating hammercylinder 15 has its striking piece 16 integral with or fastened to thelower head thereof, and notched, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, toaccommodate the lateral projections 32. cylinder head or its strikingpiece delivers its blow directly to the end of the pile section onopposite sides of the standard projections and a follower block is notnecessary, although one might be employed. On each projection 32, and ondiametrically opnosite sides of the cylinder, is mounted the cylinder 19of a fluid pressure jack, the said cylinders being connected at theirtops with the cross-head 9 on the rod 8, and the nlungers 20 being alsounited by a pressure plate 33. The fluid pressure for operating thejacks is introduced through the duct 29, in the projection 32, andpasses simultaneously into each cylinder. The hammer cylinder 15 isfitted between the jack cylinders 19 so as to be guided thereby andprevented from turning on its axis during its The reciprocation. Inoperation the apparatus of this form is inserted between the top of thefirst pile section and the header beams, the same as the form firstdescribed, and the expansion of the jacks acting against the abutmentexerts a downward pressure on the pile through the lateral projections32, in obvious manner. The simultaneous op eration of the reciprocatinghammer element, delivering its blows to the exposed end of the pile asabove ex lained, produces substantially the same e ect as that producedby the apparatus of Figs. 13. The valve chest 12, the position of whichdetermines the front of the apparatus, is located nearer to one jackcylinder than the other, as shown in the drawings, and the feed pipe 10is also located on the same side of the cross-head 9 as the valve chest,so that the jack cylinder and the cross-head and presser plate assumes adiagonal position with respect to the front of the apparatus, therebypermitting the same to be inserted and operated in a smaller niche inthe wall than would otherwise be the case. It will be observed, however,that neither form of the invention as above described requires a nicheof much greater width than the diameter of the pile and that especiallyin the last described form the height of the niche is reduced to aminimum.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureby-United States Letters Patent, is

l. The herein described method of sinking piles, which consists inexpanding a suitable instrument between the pile and a fixed abutment tothereby exert a constant downward pressure upon said pile andsimultaneously imparting a succession of downwardly directed hammerblows to said pile, substantially as described.

2. In a pile sinking apparatus, the combination of an expansive meansadapted to act against an abutment and exert a constant downwardpressure upon the pile, with a hammer mechanism adapted to exert asuccession of blows against said pile in the same direction.

3. In a pile sinking apparatus, a motordriven hammer mechanism providedwith a standard or base adapted to rest upon the pile, combined with anexpansive instrument supported by said standard and adapted to actagainst a fixed abutment to exert a downward pressure on said pile.v

4:. A pile sinking apparatus comprising a fluid pressure jack and amotor-driven hammer mechanism, united to exert their energies in thesame direction and a single supporting standard therefor adapted to restupon the pile.

5. A pile sinking apparatus comprising a motor-driven hammer mechanismand an expansive instrument located in parallel remer mechanism.

6. In a pile sinking apparatus, a motordriven hammer mechanism and anexpansive instrument adapted to be expanded against an abutment to exerta downward pressure on the pile, in combination with a single supportingstandard for said mechanism and instrument adapted to rest upon the endof the pile and provided with a channel or aperture leading into theinterior of said pile.

7 In a pile sinking apparatus, a motordriven hammer mechanism comprisinga stationary piston, a reciprocating cylinder, and means for supportingsaid stationary piston upon the pile, in combination with an expansiveinstrument supported by said means and adapted to expand against an"abutment and exert a downward pressure upon the pile.

8. A motor-driven hammer mechanism comprising a stationary piston andpiston rod, and a reciprocating cylinder surrounding the same, incombination with a standard on the base of said rod adapted to rest uponand within the end of a tubular pile, whereby said cylinder is held inposition to impart its energy to the end of the pile.

9. A motor-driven hammer mechanism, comprising a standard adapted torest upon the pile, a piston rod mounted on said stand ard and providedwith a downwardly extending piston, and a reciprocating cylindersurrounding the latter, in combination with an upward extension on theother side of said piston and a cross-head secured to said extension.

10. I11 a motor driven hammer mechanism a piston and piston rod, meansfor mounting one end of said rod upon the end of the pile as a supportfor the said piston, in combination with a hammer cylinder surroundingsaid piston and means for introducing fluid pressure alternately intosaid cylinder on opposite sides of said piston.

11. A motor driven hammer mechanism comprising a stationary piston rodand a base therefor adapted to rest in a recess formed in the end of atubular pile, in combination with a piston on said rod and a hammercylinder surrounding said piston.

12. A motor driven hammer-mechanism comprising a hollow support adaptedto rest upon a portion of the terminal area of a pile, motor mechanismsurrounding said support and a hammer, actuated thereby, adapted to actagainst the remainder of said area.

13. A motor-driven hammer mechanism for sinking tubular piles,comprising a standard adapted to support said mecha-' nism upon andmaintain the same in alinement with the pile, said standard being provided with a portion resting upon or over the end of said pile andhaving another portion extending into the interior thereof.

let. In a motor-driven hammer mechanism for sinking tubular piles, astandard or base for supporting said mechanism on the pile upon which itoperates, said standard comprising lateral projections adapted to restin recesses or notches in the end of the pile and having a part belowsaid projections located within the said tubular pile.

15. In a motor-driven hammer mechanism, a standard for supporting thesame on the pile upon which it operates, comprising lateral projectionswhich are adapted to rest upon the end of a pile, in combination withthe hammer element of said mechanism formed to act on opposite sides ofsaid projections.

16. In a motor-driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles, thecombination of a supporting standard therefor having a part extendedbelow the pile for lateral support thereon and a lateral projectionadapted to rest on the end of the pile, with a reciprocating hammerelement adapted to impart its energy to the end of said pile andrecessed to accommodate said projection.

17. In a motor-driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles, thecombination of a supporting standard therefor having a part within thepile and projections adapted to rest in a notch in the end thereof, witha reciprocating hammer element adapted to impart its energy to said pileon opposite sides of said projections.

18. In'a motor-driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles, a supportingstandard therefor having apart adapted to extend below the top of thepile and a part adapted to rest over the edge thereof, the said stand.-

ard being apertured to provide a communication with the interior of saidpile.

19. In a motor-driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles, a supportingstandard therefor having a part adapted to fit within and close the endof the pile and a part adapted to rest over the edge thereof, the saidstandard being apertured vertically and laterally to provide ingress andegress passages to the interior of the pile.

20. In a motor-driven hammer mehcanism for tubular piles, a standard forsupporting the same upon the pile having a part adapted to fit withinand close the end of said pile and a lateral projection adapted to restupon the edge thereof, the said standard being provided with an apertureor passage leading from the interior of the pile, through said lateralprojection, to the exterior thereof.

21. In a motor driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles the combinationof a base or standard adapted to rest on the end of the pile and apacking interposed between said base and pile.

22. In a motor-driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles, a standard forsupporting the same upon the pile comprising an inner part adapted tofit within and close the end of the pile and lateral projections adaptedto rest upon the edge thereof, in combination with an inflatable packingon said inner part and a channel formed in one of said lateralprojections through which said packing may be inflated.

23. In a pile sinking apparatus, the combination of a motor-drivenhammer mechanism and a standard to support the same on the pile, havinga part extending within the pile and a lateral projection rest-ing uponthe edge of the pile, with a fluid pressure jack mounted on saidprojection .at the side of said mechanism.

24. In a pile sinking apparatus, the combination of a motordriven hammermechanism, a fluid pressure jack, and a single standard upon which thesame are mounted and by which they are supported upon the pile, saidstandard being provided with a fluid pressure supply port for the saidack.

25. In a pile sinking apparatus, a motordriven hammer mechanism and astandard by which the same is supported upon the end of a pile, incombination with fluid pressure jacks located on said standard onopposite sides of said mechanism.

26. In a pile sinking apparatus, a pair of fluid pressure jacks and amotor-driven hammer mechanism located between them, in combination witha common standard for said jacks and mechanism, adapted to rest on theend of a pile.

27. In a pile sinking apparatus, a pair of fluid pressure jacks and amotor-driven hammer mechanism located between them, in combination witha valve mechanism for said hammer mechanism located at the side thereofand nearer to one of said jacks than to the other.

28. In a pile sinking apparatus, a standard adapted to rest upon thepile, a motordriven hammer mechanism supported by said standard, incombination with fluid pressure cylinders on said standard at oppositesides of said mechanism, a cross-head joining the upper portions of saidcylinders and plungers working in said cylinders.

29. In a tubular pile sinking apparatus, the combination of a standardadapted to rest upon the end of a pile, with an expansive instrument anda motor-driven hammer mechanism supported by said standard and adaptedto exert their energies in the same direction, said mechanism andstandard being provided with an aperture from end to end thereof leadinginto the interior of the pile.

30. In a pile sinking apparatus, a standard, a motor mechanism supportedon said standard and a hammer element reciprocated thereby, incombination with a cylinder on said standard with which said hammerelement has sliding engagement and a plunger working in said cylinder.

31. In a pile sinking apparatus, a standard, a stationary pistonsupported thereon, side cylinders on said standard having plungerstherein, and a cross-head for said cylinders, in combination with areciprocating hammer cylinder surrounding said piston and having slidingengagement with said side cylinders.

32. In a motor driven hammer mechanism for tubular piles, a centralsupport therefor adapted to support said mechanism upon the pile andcomprising a closure for the end of said pile and a hole through saidclosure leading from the interior of the pile to the exterior thereof.

33. In a motor-driven hammer-mechanism, a central support provided witha standard adapted to rest on the marginal portion of the pile, areciprocating hammer surrounding said central support having an extendedstriking surface adapted to act on said marginal portion at the side ofsaid support.

3a. The combination with a tubular pile of a motor driven hammermechanism having a central support engaging the end of said pile and anannular hammer surrounding said support.

35. The combination with a tubular pile, of a motor driven hammermechanism and a support therefor, said mechanism and support beingmutually organized each to engage a portion of the edge of said tubularpile.

36. A motor driven hammer mechanism adapted for sinking tubular pilesand comprising a supporting standard adapted to be supported in lessthan the entire terminal area of said tubular pile on opposite sidesthereof whereby the remainder of said area is exposed to the impact ofsaid hammer mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to the specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMASA B. CLARK.

Witnesses:

H. G. KIMBALL, OSCAR W. JEFFERY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

